Pomponio Nenna, born in Bari in 1556, was a 'gentleman composer' who inherited the title of cavaliere di Cesare from his father.
Composition History
Nenna's 'Primo libro de' madrigali a cinque voci' was dedicated to Fabrizio Carafa, Duke of Andria, in gratitude and to celebrate the birth of his first son, Antonio Carafa.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in January 2025 at the Chapelle Saint-Louis de l'hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Nenna adopted the genre of the light madrigal, popularized by Luca Marenzio, for these joyful verses, creating lively and radiant music that was 'grateful to the ear'.
Historical Context
The composer Carlo Gesualdo murdered Fabrizio Carafa, Nenna's patron, and Gesualdo's wife Maria d'Avalos in 1590, a double homicide that shocked European courts.
Album & Artwork
The cover illustration for this album is Pieter Brueghel the Elder's 'Naval battle in the Gulf of Naples'.
Composer Biography
Pomponio Nenna later entered the service of Carlo Gesualdo, the murderer of his former patron, and worked at his court between 1594 and 1599.
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